Five teams have been consistently listed by media types as having the inside edge on signing up young free agent Justin Schultz: the Edmonton Oilers, the New York Rangers, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Canucks.

New York Rangers

Do they have a spot in their Top 4 at even strength?

No.

Both Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh got more than 21 minutes per game at evens, while Marc Stall got 17:40 and Michael Del Zotto 16:51. Del Zotto is a cut below the Big Three, but is Schultz any better than him right now? Not likely.

Do they have a spot on their power play?

Yes. Del Zotto ruled on the power play, with more than four minutes per game, but I could see Schultz cutting into Giradi’s 1:45 per game.

Anything else?

Well, Ryan McDonagh is an old teammate from Wisco.

But New York is stacked with great young d-men. Not the best place to go if you want a real shot, right now.

Rangers chances?

Doesn’t seem like Schultz is infatuated with America, given the Canada-heavy list of finalists. Tough competition here as well.

Maybe, but I can’t see it.

Edmonton Oilers

Do they have a spot in their Top 4 at even strength?

Very likely.

Jeff Petry and Ladi Smid both played strong against strong competition, the hallmark of top-tier NHL d-men, so they’re in the Top 4, as is steady vet Nick Schultz. After that, it’s between Schultz and Ryan Whitney, he of many injuries. Whitney actually played OK hockey in the final two months of the season.

But there’s surely room, somewhere, for Justin Schultz to get significant minutes at even strength with the Oilers.

Do they have a spot on their power play?

Yes.

Corey Potter was strong on the power play, chipping in on 17 goals last year, sixth best on the team last year. He moves the puck and shoots well. No one else really does, though, not Whitney or Petry.

Anything else?

Oilers have been just about worst team in the league for years. You really want to sign up here?

But that’s balanced off with chance to play with the Fab Four: Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, Jordan Eberle.

Indeed, the Fab Four could well be the factor that gives Edmonton the edge over all other teams.

Hmmm … Gonchar and Karlsson both had more than three minutes a game on the pp last season, but Gonchar had limited success and Schultz could also take Kuba’s minutes.

Anything else?

Is this team really going anywhere? Maybe. Karlsson is certainly a young star. Jason Spezza is also good, but one playmaker does not a Fab Four make.

Senators Chances

Same as Rangers. Maybe, but I can’t see it.

Vancouver Canucks

Do they have a spot in their Top 4 at even strength?

Not so much. Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis and Alex Edler are entrenched in the top units, with Chris Tanev, Sami Salo and Keith Ballard battling to get there as well. It’s a solid group, with even the bottom three guys having some real game.

Andrew Alberts is also signed up, while Salo is an unrestricted free agent

Do they have a spot on their power play?

Not really.

Edler got major minutes, as did Salo, with his big shot. Bieksa and Hamhuis also got time.

Finally, the Canucks are in the running for free agent Jason Garrison, so maybe they’re not quite so crazy about Schultz as, say, the Sens, the Leafs or the Oilers?

Chances?

Decent.

Schultz is a B.C. boy, and that apparently matters. The question is: does Schultz want to play on a team of strong, entrenched vets, who need to win right now, and won’t have much time for rookie mistakes. Or does he want to forge his future with players closer to his age and situation?

Toronto Maple Leafs

Do they have a spot in their Top 4 at even strength?

Not really.

Dion Phaneuf is top dog, with Jake Gardiner and Carl Gunnarsson also entrenched. Brian Burke traded for John-Michael Liles, who has four years left on a hefty contract. That’s the spot that Schultz would have, but Liles fills it.

And if Toronto wants to win right now, today — which seems a major preoccupation and imperative for Burke — Liles may be better in the short term than Schultz.

Do they have a spot on their power play?

Hmmm… Phaneuf and Liles are the main cogs, and one might expect Gardiner would expect and deserve a shot, too.

Anything else?

Burke keeps shuffling the deck, looking for a magic formula that doesn’t involve going scorched earth, but he’s yet to find one. The team is treading water, furiously, loudly, but still just treading. Why go there?

Chances?

Gardiner is an old college teammate, which is apparently a plus. But I can’t see the fit, not with Liles there, and not with a team stuck in mediocre.

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